123 - When does the night end

There is a story told of a rabbi in ancient times who gathered his students together very early one morning, while it was still dark. He put this question to them, "How can you tell when night has ended and the day has begun?"

One student made a suggestion, "Could it be when you can see an animal and you can tell whether it is a sheep or a goat?"

"No, that's not it ," answered the rabbi.

Another student said, "Could it be when you look at a tree in the distance and you can tell whether it is fig tree or a peach tree?"

Again the rabbi answered, "No."

After a few more guesses the students said, "Well, how do you tell when the night has ended?"

The rabbi answered, "It is when you look on the face of any man or woman and you see them as your brother and sister. If you cannot do this, then, no matter what time it is, it is still night."

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html